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Delhi, Louisiana
City
Town of Delhi
Delhi City Hall
Delhi City Hall
Location of Delhi in Richland Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Delhi in Richland Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country United States
State Louisiana
Parish Richland
Government
 • Type Mayor-council
Area
 • Total 2.94 sq mi (7.62 km2)
 • Land 2.87 sq mi (7.44 km2)
 • Water 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation
89 ft (27 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,622
 • Density 912.95/sq mi (352.55/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
71232
Area code(s) 318
FIPS code 22-20190

Delhi (pronounced DEL-hy), originally called Deerfield, is a town in Richland Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 2,622 people lived in the town.

History of Delhi

Early Schools and Natural Gas

In 1890, a school called the Delhi Institute was started in Delhi. It was a private school for Black students and was connected to the A.M.E. church. Later, it was renamed Lampton College. After a fire in 1907, the school moved to Alexandria. It eventually joined with Campbell College in Mississippi after 1945.

In the 1940s, Delhi became a busy place because of a big natural gas boom. Many people came to work in the gas industry. Even today, there are still several gas fields around the town that are working.

The 1971 Tornado

On February 21, 1971, a very powerful tornado hit near Delhi. It was Louisiana's only recorded F5 tornado, which is the strongest kind. This tornado caused 47 deaths. It was the deadliest F5 tornado in the United States since 1966.

Geography and Location

Where is Delhi Located?

Delhi is located at 32°27′21″N 91°29′36″W / 32.45583°N 91.49333°W / 32.45583; -91.49333. This means it's in the northern part of Louisiana. The town is found where two main roads meet: U.S. Route 80 and Louisiana Highway 17. It is also close to Interstate 20, a major highway.

The town covers about 2.94 square miles (7.62 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Protection from Floods

Delhi is about 89 feet (27 meters) above sea level. This higher ground helped protect the town from the terrible Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. This flood destroyed most of the areas around the Mississippi River Delta.

Poverty Point Reservoir

Just north of Delhi, along Louisiana Highway 17, you'll find the Poverty Point Reservoir. This area is home to the Black Bear Golf Club and the Poverty Point Reservoir State Park. The idea for this reservoir project was strongly supported by State Senator Francis C. Thompson, who was from Delhi.

Population Changes Over Time

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 186
1880 315 69.4%
1890 620 96.8%
1900 507 −18.2%
1910 685 35.1%
1920 980 43.1%
1930 1,043 6.4%
1940 1,192 14.3%
1950 1,861 56.1%
1960 2,514 35.1%
1970 2,887 14.8%
1980 3,290 14.0%
1990 3,169 −3.7%
2000 3,066 −3.3%
2010 2,919 −4.8%
2020 2,622 −10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
Delhi's Population Makeup (2020)
Group Number Percentage
White (not Hispanic) 789 30.09%
Black or African American (not Hispanic) 1,727 65.87%
Native American 8 0.31%
Asian 8 0.31%
Other/Mixed 44 1.68%
Hispanic or Latino 46 1.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,622 people living in Delhi. These people made up 1,082 households and 641 families.

Education in Delhi

Public schools in Delhi are managed by the Richland Parish School Board. There are three main schools that serve the town:

  • Delhi Elementary School (for grades Pre-Kindergarten to 4)
  • Delhi Middle School (for grades 5 to 8)
  • Delhi High School (for grades 9 to 12)

There is also a special school called Delhi Charter School (DCS), which teaches students from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.

How Delhi Got Its Name

The exact reason why Delhi is called Delhi is not fully known. One story says that a professor named Allen chose the name. He supposedly got the idea from a poem called "Lalla Rookh" by Thomas Moore. Another story suggests that the name came from a tree that had "Delhi" carved into it. Travelers used this tree to help them find their way.

Famous People from Delhi

Many interesting people have connections to Delhi:

  • Earl Holliman – A Golden Globe award-winning actor known for movies like Giant and the TV show Police Woman.
  • Arlene Howell – She was crowned Miss Louisiana USA in 1958 and then became Miss USA 1958. She also acted on television.
  • Bnois King – A talented jazz and blues musician who was born in Delhi.
  • Bob Love – A famous basketball player who went to high school in Delhi.
  • Tim McGraw – A very popular country singer, originally from nearby Start, Louisiana.
  • Andrew "Blueblood" McMahon – A Chicago blues bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
  • Johnny Robinson – A six-time NFL All-Pro player and a 2020 NFL Hall of Fame Inductee. He won the Super Bowl in 1970 with the Kansas City Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Charles Wyly and Sam Wyly – Businessmen who helped fund the Wyly Tower of Learning at Louisiana Tech University.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Delhi (Luisiana) para niños

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